BCE entrance exams 2026: SKEMA consolidates its status as the most sought-after business school

Among the 9,506 preparatory-class candidates registered for the Banque Commune d’Epreuves (BCE) 2026 entrance examination, the main gateway to France’s leading business schools, SKEMA Business School once again affirmed its strong appeal. In this highly competitive environment, the school once again come out on top, establishing itself as the most popular choice among students for the seventh consecutive year.

8,301 candidates: SKEMA leads preparatory students’ choices

In 2026, 8,301 candidates chose to apply to SKEMA in the BCE entrance exam, compared to 8,155 last year, representing an increase of +1.8%. This figure places the school at the top of the most sought-after institutions, ahead of all other BCE member schools.

Strong appeal across all major ECG streams

More specifically, SKEMA achieved particularly strong results across the four main ECG preparatory tracks:

• ECG Applied Mathematics – Economics and Sociology (ESH): 2,401 candidates
• ECG Advanced Mathematics – History, Geography and Geopolitics (HGG): 1,820 candidates
• ECG Applied Mathematics – HGG: 1,485 candidates
• ECG Advanced Mathematics – ESH: 1,011 candidates
   

These results reflect strong appeal among both scientific profiles and students with a strong background in economics or geopolitics. At a time when applied mathematics attracts 58% of candidates nationwide, SKEMA proved its ability to attract top quantitative profiles while remaining highly appealing to students with a strong economic and international outlook.

A strong presence in technological and literary streams

The school also maintained strong appeal across other pathways:

• 1,025 candidates from technological preparatory streams
• 559 candidates from literary streams (BEL/B/L)

SKEMA maintained a significant presence among literary profiles, valued for their breadth of perspective and analytical abilities. The school also has 2,195 scholarship candidates, reinforcing its appeal to a wide diversity of candidates.

A distinctive educational model

For Patrice Houdayer, Executive Vice President of Global Academic Affairs and Sylvie Jean, Director of the Master in Management (PGE) programme, this performance is no coincidence.
 

“The 2026 figures confirm that students are looking for a school that can prepare them for a complex and technologically transformed world. The structure of the PGE around highly customisable pathways, the integration of contemporary challenges such as AI, sustainability and geopolitics, as well as the strength of our multi-campus model, are decisive assets,” they explained.